TUB CUTTING-ANT OF TEXAS. 241 



of the gates, and so threw separate 

 moundlets back upon each other. 



" My first view of the mound led 

 me to fear that I had made a seri- 

 ous mistake and pitched my camp 

 near an abandoned nest. There 

 was not a sign of hfe. The mound 

 was covered over with earthen 

 knobs or warts of various sizes, but 



FIG. 80.— PROCESSION OF PARASOL OR CUTTING- 



ANTS. 



the action of a recent shower upon the black soil gave 

 the hill the appearance of an old one. Here and tLre 

 were scattered over the surface small, irregular heaps 

 of dry leaves, bits of leaves and twigs. Otherwise the 

 mound seemed lifeless, deserted. 



" My next visit was in the evening. After supper I 



